LRAB Chapter 128 The father-in-law looks at his son-in-law, and the more he looks, the more...
Chapter 128 The father-in-law looks at his son-in-law, and the more he looks, the more...
December 31, 1925, late at night.
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Chen Zijun sat in the armchair in the study and casually glanced at the system panel.
[Host: Chen Zijun]
[Unlimited spending system in operation... Current fund acquisition speed: 1.5 pounds/second]
Current available funds: £3,645,800
[Fixed Assets and Unrealized Gains: Annual tax payments are being recorded for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang National Protection Merchants Fund; assets seized in Japan are being disposed of; and the Ma'anshan Arsenal is expanding its production capacity.]
The money is still rising.
However, in Chen Zijun's view, problems that money can solve are never the real problems.
The real problem is people.
With Krupp cannons, you need artillery officers who know how to use them. With arsenals and steel mills, you need management talent who understand how the industrial system works. With an army of 100,000, you need division and brigade commanders who can lead independently.
These things cannot be purchased by the system.
"younger brother!"
The study door was pushed open.
Cao Qingdi walked in quickly, her eyes still a little red and swollen, but her face was filled with an irrepressible joy.
"Father has been settled in. He... he's even gained a little weight since he was in Beiping." Cao Qingdi smiled, then her eyes reddened. "Chief of Staff Shen took very good care of him throughout the journey. Father said the braised pork on the special train was especially delicious; he ate three bowls."
Chen Zijun couldn't help but shake his head.
This former president has a really good appetite. I just witnessed a seven-second massacre at the train station, and my legs were still shaking when I got off the train. But when I got to the mansion, after taking a shower and changing my clothes, the first thing I did was ask the kitchen if there was any midnight snack left.
"Sister Cao, why don't you go and talk to the old man first? I'll go and pay my respects after he's rested."
Cao Qingdi nodded, but suddenly stopped when she reached the door.
She turned around, looked into Chen Zijun's eyes, and spoke very softly.
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for bringing my father to Shanghai. I know... this matter is dangerous. Chief of Staff Shen told me everything that happened at the train station tonight."
Cao Qingdi's voice trembled slightly.
"You personally went to pick me up at the station, personally taking that risk. I, Cao Qingdi, can never repay this kindness in my lifetime."
Chen Zijun smiled as he looked at her serious expression.
"He's my future father-in-law, isn't it only natural for me to pick him up? Alright, alright, stop getting sentimental, let's go keep Uncle Cao company."
Cao Qingdi's face turned red instantly.
"Who...who is yours...?"
Before she could finish speaking, she turned and fled the study, forgetting to even close the door.
Hearing the hurried footsteps in the corridor, Chen Zijun smiled.
This woman is as calm as ice on the operating table, but when it comes to feelings, she becomes like a little girl.
……
After half an hour.
Cao Yu pushed open the door and entered the study.
The old man changed into a clean gray cotton robe, and his beard and hair were neatly combed. He looked much better than Chen Zijun had expected. Although there was a sense of desolation and vicissitude between his brows, his eyes were still bright.
Those were eyes that had seen far too much power and intrigue.
"Uncle, please sit down." Chen Zijun stood up and personally poured Cao Yu a cup of hot tea.
Cao Yu didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down in the armchair with an air of authority, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and took a big gulp.
"Good tea."
"Pre-Qingming Longjing tea".
"Hmm, not bad." Cao Yu put down his teacup, looked up at Chen Zijun, and asked with a scrutinizing gaze, "Young Chen, tell me the truth, how much wealth do you actually have under your control?"
Chen Zijun smiled slightly.
The best way to deal with an old fox is to not hide anything.
He stood up, walked to a huge military map hanging on the wall of the study, and casually pulled back the cover.
"Uncle, please take a look."
Cao Yu approached with his teacup in hand, and then...
I almost dropped the teacup.
The map was densely marked with all of Chen Jiajun's assets.
The red marker represents the army. It consists of six fully-staffed defense divisions, one independent armored brigade, and one heavy artillery regiment. The total strength exceeds 200,000.
The blue markers represent the navy. The Wusongkou fortress complex, 381mm and 280mm coastal defense heavy artillery positions, three destroyers under construction, a torpedo boat swarm, and a submarine force that has been operating off the coastline.
The green label indicates industry. Examples include Ma'anshan Iron and Steel Plant, an arsenal, Jiangnan Shipyard, and a sulfonamide pharmaceutical plant…
The yellow markings represent the economy: profits from the raw silk trade, seized physical assets from Japan, and annual taxes from the Jiangsu-Zhejiang National Protection Merchants Fund.
Cao Yu stared at it for a full five minutes without saying a word.
He had been a warlord for decades and had served as president. What kind of military maps hadn't he seen? But he had never seen a local power that could integrate industry, military, navy, and economy to this extent.
This is not a warlord.
This is the beginnings of a nation.
"You..." Cao Yu swallowed hard, his voice dry. "You little brat, are you trying to rebuild the Republic?"
Chen Zijun did not give a direct answer.
He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the location of the Yangtze River estuary on the map.
"Uncle, what was the most troublesome thing for you when you were in the Beiyang Army?"
Cao Yu remained silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
"people."
"Yes." Chen Zijun nodded. "I'm the same now. I have no shortage of guns and cannons, no shortage of steel, and no shortage of money. But I lack people. I lack generals who can lead troops into battle, staff officers who understand modern warfare, and talented individuals who can support a complete military education system."
He turned his head and looked at Cao Yu.
"Shen Li is a genius, but he's only one person. Zang Keping is good at fighting, but he's not good at strategic planning. Yang Yanzhao is resourceful, but he's not good at logistics or the army and navy! What I need is not just one or two fierce generals, but a system that can mass-produce officers."
Cao Yu's eyes lit up.
He immediately understood the unspoken meaning behind Chen Zijun's words.
"You want to start a military academy?"
"The Central National Defense Military Academy," Chen Zijun stated the name directly, "to be located in Shanghai. I want to build a military academy that is better than the Baoding Military Academy and stronger than the Japanese Army Academy. Within three years, I want this academy to train at least five hundred qualified company and platoon-level officers, one hundred battalion and regimental-level commanders, and at least twenty senior staff officers who can work independently."
Cao Yu took a deep breath.
This young man's ambition was greater than he had imagined.
"But..." Cao Yu hesitated for a moment, "Setting up a military academy is easy; finding good instructors and principals is the real challenge. Your officers are all combat veterans; they're good at fighting on the battlefield, but getting them to teach and nurture..."
"So I need my uncle's help."
Chen Zijun changed the subject, his gaze fixed intently on Cao Yu.
"Back then, the Beiyang government sponsored a large number of military talents to study abroad. Chinese students were found in major military academies in Germany, Japan, and France. Unfortunately, due to the constant civil wars in Beiyang, these talents either returned to their hometowns disheartened or suffered all kinds of grievances under various warlords."
"Your uncle is a former president. Your influence still carries weight among the old Beiyang clique."
Cao Yu snorted.
"You brat, after going through all this trouble, you were just after me."
But there wasn't a trace of displeasure in his tone.
Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
A fallen former president, arriving in his prospective son-in-law's territory, can still be treated like a treasure and brought out to shine? To be honest, this feeling... is even more comfortable than when he was president.
"OK!"
Cao Yu slapped his thigh and stood up.
"Although I've fallen on hard times, I still have some influence in the North! You need men? I'll find them for you!"
He held up one finger.
"The first person I'd like to recommend is a great talent. His surname is Jiang, given name Fu, courtesy name Danning. He was the former principal of the Baoding Military Academy. When he was studying at the Army Academy in Japan, he surpassed all his fellow Japanese students and graduated first in his class! He was personally awarded a sword by the Emperor of Japan!"
Chen Zijun's pupils contracted slightly.
Jiang Fu.
Jiang Danning.
The foremost military strategist of the Republic of China. The man who wrote "On National Defense".
In his previous life, this person never received the recognition he deserved. Despite his vast knowledge and learning, he could only serve as a nominal advisor to various warlords, and ultimately died in depression.
And now...
A fiery glint flashed in Chen Zijun's eyes.
If Jiang Fu could come...
Then the army under Chen Zijun's command will have no weaknesses, from the officer training system to the strategic planning level!
"Uncle!" Chen Zijun's voice suddenly rose a octave, "Where is Mr. Jiang Fu now?"
"He's living a quiet life in his hometown of Haining." Cao Yu stroked his beard. "I heard he's disheartened and no longer wants to deal with warlords. But..."
The old man narrowed his eyes and revealed a sly smile.
"He and I have a past. Back when he returned from studying in Japan, although he was under that bastard Duan Hedao's command, I was the one who truly promoted him to the position of principal of the Baoding Military Academy. Jiang Fu will never forget this kindness."
"I'll write to him tomorrow. No, writing is too slow. I'll send him a telegram myself!"
Cao Yu became more and more excited as he spoke, pacing back and forth in his study as if he had suddenly become twenty years younger.
"Not just Jiang Fu! The instructors from the Baoding Military Academy back then, the artillery experts who studied in Germany, the engineering talents who studied in France... Among my old subordinates, there aren't many who can fight, but there are at least eighty or a hundred who can teach, do staff planning, and build military schools!"
"They'll all come at the slightest word!"
Looking at the old man in front of him, whose face was flushed with excitement, Chen Zijun sighed inwardly.
Cao Yu.
This old man, who has been ridiculed in history as a "bribery president," has shown his true value at this moment.
It's not money, it's not the army, it's connections.
How could someone who can be called Cao the Third Fool and a socialite killer be a real mob?
Moreover, Cao Yu was able to become the commander-in-chief of the Zhili clique not only because of his seniority and high position, but more importantly because he was kind and sincere to people and won their hearts.
This is the vast network of interpersonal relationships he accumulated over decades in the Beiyang government.
This net is worth more than a thousand Krupp cannons.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Chen Zijun stood up and bowed deeply to Cao Yu.
Cao Yu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You brat, why are you being so polite with me? You're Qingdi's man, practically my son. It's only right to serve family!"
He patted Chen Zijun on the shoulder with a smile, but there was a hint of shrewdness in his eyes.
"But speaking of which... when are you going to marry my daughter? Qingdi is already twenty-eight. If you don't make a move soon, this old man will really get anxious."
Chen Zijun paused for a moment.
this……
He coughed and said seriously, "Uncle, don't worry, once the situation stabilizes a bit more, I will definitely give Sister Cao a grand wedding."
"Hmph." Cao Yu snorted and turned to walk towards the door. "When will your situation stabilize? Someone like you will probably still feel that the situation is not stable enough even when you have unified the world."
He walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and said something without turning his head.
"I only have one daughter. If you dare to betray her, I'll make you pay, even if it costs me my old bones."
After saying that, the old man pushed open the door and went out.
The study fell silent again.
Chen Zijun stood in front of the huge military map, his gaze falling on an open space in the western suburbs of Shanghai.
Central National Defense Military School.
Jiang Fu.
Former subordinates of Baoding.
Military elites who studied abroad.
A slow smile crept onto his lips.
The talent problem has been solved.
So, what's next...?
His gaze shifted to the location of the Ma'anshan Arsenal on the map, and his eyes became fervent.
Cannons. Tanks. Warships. Airplanes.
Now that the military personnel are about to arrive, the comprehensive upgrade of the military industry must be put on the agenda immediately.
Chen Zijun walked to his desk and pressed the button on the direct line phone.
"Notify the arsenal to prepare for a major upgrade..."